Garment finisher



GARMENT FINISHER Filed Dec. 23, 1968 4 sheets sheet 2 770mm d. Vamky@222 49 @imzasezz United States Patent 3,512,703 GARMENT FINISHER NormanA. Buckley, Wauwatosa, and Peter D. Rasmussen, Milwaukee, Wis.,assignors to McGraw- Edison Company, Elgin, 111., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Dec. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 785,947 Int. Cl. A41h 5/00 U.S.Cl. 223-70 22 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A garment finisherhaving a form upon which a garment is dressed and including means foradmitting steam and air under pressure to the interior of the garment,and specifically having means to hold the garment relative to the formincluding a flexible sleeve or bag expandable by said pressure againstthe inside of the garment for frictionally confining the garment againstouter restraining means or clamps, means including a control for theclamps wherein the clamps can be moved to and held at the operativepositions and released simultaneously as desired, and further means forautomatically controlling such steam and air admissions including acycle having initial discharge of both steam and air followed bysustained discharge of steam only in turn followed by sustaineddischarge of steam and the simultaneous discharge of air furtherfollowed by sustained discharge of air only.

It is common in the laundry and dry cleaning fields to finish alaundered or cleaned garment by supporting it on a form and blowingheated air and possible steam into the garment and through it. Suchsteam-air finishers, as they are known in the trade, generally conditionthe garment with the steam and dry the garment in a relatively wrinklefree condition with the heated air. Several troublesome areas exist,however, in the present equipment. One particular problem is the mannerof dressing the garment accurately and easily on the form and thereafterholding it in place during the finishing operation, and subsequentlyreleasing it. A second shortcoming is the limited automatic steam andair cycles possible on the existing equipment.

This invention relates to a steam-air finisher which has improved meansfor dressing the garment on the form and for holding the garment inplace during the finishing operation. Specifically, a front clampingmeans is actuated by manual depression to near its clamping positionproximate the lower end of the front button flap of the garment, and isthereafter subsequently held by a power cylinder firmly in place againstthe garment. This permits the garment, such as a shirt to be easilydressed on the form with accuracy since only a small force is requiredto move the clamping means against the garment. A collar clamp is alsoprovided, which can be closed in the same manner to hold the collar areaof the garment in place. After the garment is dressed, a sleeve isinflated by the steam and/or air discharge to the garment and expandsagainst the inside of the lower portion of the garment to trap thegarment against outer spaced friction faces. This frictionally restrainsthe lower portion of the garment on the form and the sleeve defines aconduit to the garment which is open at its upper end to permit directair and steam to discharge to and through the garment.

Another feature of this invention is the control for providing differentautomatic steam-air cycles. In one cycle, steam only is initiallydischarged to the interior of the garment to moisten and condition it.In another cycle,

both steam and air are initially and simultaneously dis- 3,512,703Patented May 19, 1970 'ice charged to the garment for a short duration,and then the sustained normal steam discharge continues for itsduration. For either of the cycles mentioned, during the final secondsof steam discharge, air is again concurrently discharged to the garmentand this air discharge continues even after the steam dischargeterminates and preferably until the garment is dried. This overlap ofair discharge at the beginning and at the end of the steam dischargeimproves the conditioning efficiency because the steam is moreforcefully driven through the garment.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a steam-airfinisher having an improved front clamping means for accurately andeasily dressing a garment on a form, and further including a bag orsleeve that expands within the garment to hold it against outer frictionfaces during the finishing operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clamping means whichcan be moved by an operator to close proximity of the clamping positionrelative to the garment and which automatically when proximate thisclamping position is biased by a power cylinder to the actual clampingcondition, and further to cooperating friction faces on a rear clampingmeans which are brought proximate the garment and the underlying bag orsleeve.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collar clamping meanswhich can be moved proximate the garment with a relatively small forceand which when so positioned will be firmly urged against the garmentand the underlying form by a power cylinder means.

Another object of this invention is to provide according to thepreceding object means for releasing the particular collar clampingmeans and the rear clamping means from the respective operative positionautomatically upon the release of the front clamping means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a steamair finisherhaving means for automatically discharging steam and air, concurrentlyand sequentially for given durations.

Another object of this invention is to provide automatic means forinitially discharging both steam and air automatically terminating theair discharge while continuing the steam discharge for the conditioningduration required and concurrently with the concluding seconds of thesolo steam discharge of again discharging air which subsequentlycontinues after the termination of the steam discharge, preferably untilthe garment is dried.

Another object of this invention is to provide a circuit to accomplishthe steam-air cycle according to the preceding objects which has timedelay characteristics that permit the concurrent steam and airdischarges.

These and other objects of this invention will be more fully understoodand appreciated after reviewing the accompanying specification and thedrawings forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the subject finisher, showing partof the structure broken away for sake of clarity;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, similar in part to thatshown in FIG. 1, except with the form being repositioned to face to theright of the figure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a fluid circuit showing the powercylinder means of the subject clamping mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a detailed elevational view of the subject front clamp powercylinder mount, as seen generally from line 4--4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an elevational sectional view, as seen generally from line 55in FIG. 4, except showing the cylinder proper and part of the valvestructure in typical longitudinal section;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view, of the collar clamp and clamppower cylinder, as taken generally from line 66 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, a seen generally from line 77 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, as seen generally from line 8-8 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a schematic of an electric control circuit for the subjectfinisher; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are sectional views of an alternate embodiment of acollar or lapel clamp.

Referring now to the drawings for a more detailed description of theinvention, the steam-air finisher 10 shown includes a base 12 of sheetmetal, an upright frame 14 mounted rotatably on the base, and a bag 16positioned over the frame and attached at its open lower end relative tothe frame. A blower 18 in the base provides for air flow over steamheating coils 20 and into the bag, and a nozzle 22 connected throughpipe 23 to a source of steam (not shown) provides for discharging steaminto the bag. The frame 14 includes front and rear plates 24 and 25connected at their upper ends to a neck form 26, and shoulder bars 28extend laterally thereof just below the neck form. The garment G isdressed on the shoulder bars and hangs as it would on a human torso.

The bag 16 has an impervious lower sleeve portion 29 which extends up toand within the lower part of the garment, and the circumferentialdiameter at the upper end of the sleeve 29' preferably is larger thanthe garment in this area of overlap. Consequently, a positive pressurewithin the bag caused during the finishing operation by steam or airforces the upper end of the sleeve against the garment in snug airretaining manner. The top portion 31 of the bag is extremely open meshand serves only to hold the sleeve over the form and within the garmentand to separate the hardware of the form from the garment. During thefinishing operation embracing clamps or friction faces outside thegarment are engaged by the inflated garment to hold it relative to theform.

Front clamp includes a bar 32 pivoted generally at 34 to the frame 14and further has an upper transverse arm 36 bent concave toward the bag.The rear clamp 40 is of similar construction and includes bar 42 pivotedat 44 and an upper transverse gripping arm 46.

Power cylinder is connected between the bar 32 and the frame 14 and thepower cylinder 52 is connected between the bar 42 and frame 14 forseparate actuation of the respective front and rear clamps. The frontclamp bar 32 further includes a padded p ate 54 that can be pushed bythe operators knee to move the clamp toward the clamping positionproximate the front plate 24. This permits the operator to use bothhands to dress the garment on the form, and yet clamp the garmentaccurately.

With the clamp near such a clamping position adjacent but not contactingthe front plate 24, the power cylinder 50 is designed to becomepressurized and thereby bias the front clamp arm 36 firmly against theback-up plate 24. This thereby traps and holds the front of the garmentagainst the form in the properly dressed condition. Upon the front clampcylinder 50 becoming pressurized, the the rear clamp power cylinder 52is also pressurized to swing the rear clamp bar 42 towards the garment.The piston in the power cylinder 52 bottoms out when the rear clamp isgenerally vertical and spaced from rear plate 25. Each cross arm 36 and46 is bent inwardly and presents side wings that more accurately embraceand conform to the shape of the inflated bag 16.

Antifriction means such as sponge rubber 58 is attached to each arm toengage the lower portion of the garment and prevent it from shiftingrelative to the clamp. The sponge rubber also provides a certain cushionto preclude creasing the garment between the clamp face and front plate24, or breaking buttons on the garment in this area.

Also disclosed is a collar or lapel clamp 60 including a rod 62extending outwardly from the front plate 24 and a bar connected to therod and having horizontally spaced feet 64 which engage and hold, forexample, the opposite sides of a shirt-like garment against the frontplate 24. Power cylinder 66 is connected to the rod 62 and ispressurized upon the clamp being shifted toward its clamping positionadjacent the front back-up plate 24 and subsequently forces the feetsnugly against the back-up plate. The power cylinder preferably ispivoted to the frame about a vertical axis to accommodate bottoming ofboth feet against the back-up plate even if the underlying garment be ofdissimilar thickness beneath each foot.

Preferably, the front and rear clamps 30 and 40 can be locked in placeindependently of the collar clamp 60, and the collar clamp 60 can belocked in place independently of the front and rear clamps. However, ithas been found useful to release all clamps simultaneously, and in thisregard, a release lever 70 is provided on the forward clamp arm 32. Whenthe lever 70 is shifted about its pivot connection 72 to the arm, pushrod 74 shifts axially of bar 32 against the bias of return spring 76 todepress release button 78 on the power cylinder 50. Depression of button78 vents the power cylinder 50 and simultaneously vents the rear clamppower cylinder 52 and the collar clamp power cylinder 66. In thismanner, all clamps release together and permit the finished garment tobe shifted freely relative to the form.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5 for a more detailed explanation of theforward clamp, power cylinder 50 is pivoted on horizontally alignedtrunnion mounts 80 to the side walls of front clamp bar 32 slightlyabove the bar pivot 34 to the frame. The power cylinder includes acylinder case 82 having a rod 84 extending therefrom, the rod in turnbeing connected by means of adjusting nuts 86 to the front plate 24 ofthe frame 14. The cylinder case 82 has an interior cylinder bore 88, anda piston 90 is secured to the rod 84 and adapted to cooperate with thecylinder to define an expansible chamber 92. A compression spring 94 isconfined between the piston 90 and rear wall 96 of the case 82 and tendsto shift the power cylinder to where the chamber 92 is of a minimumvolume and where the clamp 30 is spaced from the frame 14 in itsinoperative position.

Air inlet connection 98 is made to the cylinder case and communicatesthrough bore 108 and passage '114 with a cavity 100 defined annularly ofthe rod 84. The rod has an internal bore 102, and a first port 104communicates the bore 102 with the chamber 92 while a second port 106 isspaced axially from port 104. This second port 106 normally is open tothe atmosphere and thus vents bore 102 and the chamber 92; but when thepiston and rod are moved within the cylinder against the force of spring94 to Where the port 106 is brought into communication with the cavity100, the pressure within the cavity in turn communicates through port106, the bore '102 and the port 104 to the chamber 92. This urges theclamp 30 to its holding position snugly against the front plate 24 ofthe frame 14. Seals 109 adjacent the cavity 100 maintain pressure withinthe cavity while accommodating axial movement of the rod 84.

A plunger 1-10 is slidably disposed in the bore 108 with a peripheralseating area 112 cooperating with the bore. The pressure within the bore108 thus tends to move the plunger 110 to its most extended positionfrom the cylinder case where the seated area 112 is past passage 114 sothat this passage communicates line pressure to the cavity 100. However,upon actuation of the release lever 70, the push rod 74 depresses stem78 on the plunger 110 and the plunger seated area 112 passes downstreamof the passage 114 and thereby blocks line pressure from this passageand further vents the cavity 100 through recess 115 about the plungerand opening 116. This in turn vents the chamber 92 and permits thespring 94 to shift the clamp 30 to its inoperative position spaced fromthe plate 24. After lever 70 is released, the plunger again is shiftedin the bore 108 to where the seated area 112 is between passages 114 and116 to establish pressure in the cavity 100; however, since the port 106is not exposed to the cavity the clamp is not actuated but remains inthe inoperative position.

The rear power cylinder 52, similar in many regards to front powercylinder 50, has a cylinder case 120 and a rod 122 extending therefrom,a piston 124 being connected to the rod and defining in the case anexpansible chamber 126. The case '120 is pivoted by trunnion mounts 127to the clamp bar 42 and the rod is connected to the rear face 25 of theframe 14 by means of adjustable nuts 128. The rear rod 122 is hollowhaving bore 129, and port 130 therefrom communicates with the chamber126 of the rear power cylinder. A flexible hose 132 connects the openend of front power cylinder rod 84 and the open end of rear powercylinder rod 122. This communicates pressure to the rear power cylinderchamber 126 whenever bore 102 of the front power cylinder chamber ispressurized, and similarly vents the rear power cylinder chamber 126whenever the front power cylinder is vented. A spring 134 disposedbetween the piston 124 and a rear wall 136 tends to bias the rear powercylinder to the position where the chamber 126 is of minimum volumewhich corresponds to the inoperative position of the clamp 40.

It is thus seen that generally under normal conditions the plunger 110is in position within the bore 108 to communicate the air inlet 98 withthe cavity 100, and springs within the respective power cylinders 50 and52 tend to maintain the clamps in the inoperative position so that agarment can be dressed on or removed from the form. However, upon thefront clamp being moved near the front plate 24 to where port 106 isbrought into communication with the cavity 100, the front power cylinder50 is pressurized to hold the clamp in place and the rear power cylinder52 is pressurized to move clamp 40 to its garment holding positionrelative to the form. Note that stop 137 on the rear power cylinderpiston 124 hits rear wall 136 to maintain the rear clamp arm spaced fromthe frame face 25.

The collar clamp power cylinder 66 includes a case 140 having aninternal cylinder which receives slidably a piston 144 in turn connectedto the rod 62 and on which is connected the clamp bar 64. The pistondefines with the case an expansible chamber 148, and a spring 150confined between the piston and cross piny152 secured to the casenormally tends to bias the clamp to its inoperative position where thechamber 148 is of minimum volume.

The rod itself has a bore 154 therein, and one port 156 communicates thebore with the chamber 148 and a second port 158 is axially spacedtherefrom from port 156. A recess or cavity 160 is formed in the caseannularly of the rod, and an inlet connection 162 is providedcommunicating with the cavity. Normally, a flexible hose 164 or the likecommunicates the inlet 162 with a tap '166 (FIG. 4) formed on the frontpower cylinder and communicating through passage 167 with the frontcylinder cavity 100. When the piston 144 is in its normal positionbiased by the spring 150, the port 158 is out of alignment with thecavity 160 and open to the atmosphere to vent the chamher 148. However,upon the clamp 60 being shifted toward the frame 24 to where the port158 is brought within the confines of the cavity 160 line pressure iscommunicated to the chamber 148 to force the clamp firmly against theframe. The case 148 is pivotally secured to the front wall 24 of theframe on vertically aligned trunnion mounts 170 so that the horizontallyspaced clamping feet 64 can automatically equalize against theunderlying garment if the opposite sides of the garment happen to be ofunequal thickness.

The collar clamp power cylinder 66 is vented and released automaticallyupon the venting of the front power cylinder 50, and this isaccomplished because of the direct connection between cavities andthrough the hose connection 164. The spring 150 thus shifts the clamp toits inoperative position.

A garment can be easily dressed on the form and adequately held in placeby means of the subject clamps. The collar clamp and its relatedstructure can be easily aligned over the edges of the garment andbrought into clamping relationship simply by depressing the clampagainst the force of spring 150. Thereafter, the front and rear clampscan be brought into clamping relationship by mechanically shifting thefront clamp proximate the garment which pressurizes the power cylindersand thus also brings the rear clamp into clamping position. In thisregard, note that the front clamp is adjusted such that it actuallyengages and traps the garment against the underlying front plate 24;whereas rear clamp cylinder bottoms out on stop 137 to maintain the arms46 spaced from the frame 25.

After the finishing cycle begins, discharge of steam or air causes apressure inside the garment and sleeve 29. Consequently, pressure builtup in the bag balloons the sleeve 29 against the garment (FIG. 8) andtraps the garment against the clamp faces. This also closes the garmentin effect relative to the impervious sleeve to direct all air and steamwithin the sleeve through open mesh 31 and directly against the garment.After the finishing operation, all clamps can be simultaneously releasedby depressing lever 70 which vents the front clamp power cylinder 50,collar clamp power cylinder 66, and rear clamp power cylinder 52.

One very successful steam-air cycle for the disclosed finisher providesthat both steam and air are initially discharged into the bag 16 for ashort duration, viz a few seconds. This added pressure rapidly seats thesleeve against the garment and the garment against the clamps.Thereafter, the air discharge is terminated and the steam dischargecontinued until the garment is properly conditioned. However, before thesteam discharge is terminated, the air discharge is initiated andcontinued until the garment is dry.

The circuit suitable for controlling the above cycle, and others, isdisclosed in FIG. 9, where electrical power sources are indicated as HOTand grounds are indicated with the conventional symbols. Physical itemsin the circuit include foot pedal 180, steam timer 182, air timer 184,blower motor 186, manual-automatic blower selector switch 188, steamsolenoid valve 190, and manual-automatic steam selector switch 192.

The foot pedal actuates two separate single pole double-throw switches200 and 202. In the switch 200, normally open contact 204 is hot whilenormally closed contact 206 is connected through lead 207 to centercontact 220 of the steam timer 182 and to normally open relay switch208. The center contact 210 connects by line 211 through solenoid coil212 to the contact 213 of air timer 184 and normally closed contact 214to ground, as indicated. Also connected off line 211 is the normallyopen contact 215 of the relay switch controlled by solenoid coil 212,the opposite contact 216 being HOT as indicated. Upon depressing thefoot pedal 180 and relating only to the switch 200, the common contact210 becomes closed against hot contact 204 to energize the solenoid coil212 and thereby close the switch 215, which thereafter maintains thecoil energized through the closed contacts 213 and 214 of the air timer184.

Upon releasing the foot pedal, switch 200 returns to the position tostart motor 218 on the steam timer 182. The timer is such that theswitch maintains the position as shown until the time set on the timerhas elapsed whereupon the motor 218 shifts the switch and the commoncontact 220 closes against normally open contact 222. As shown, however,the normally closed contact 224 of the steam timer switch becomes hotand is connected through half wave rectifier 226 to energize a delaycontrol loop containing solenoid coil 228 for the switch 208, condenser229 and resistor 230. The direct current charge applied 7 to the loopenergizes the solenoid 228 to close switch 208 which now brings powerthrough line 232, and contacts 233 and 234 of the manual-automatic steamselector control switch 192 to open the solenoid valve 190 fordischarging steam from nozzle 22.

The control is such that even after the steam timer contact 220 isshifted from the positions shown to against normally open contact 222,steam will continue for a short duration, viz a couple of seconds, to bedischarged from the nozzle 22. This is so because the condenser 229discharges through the coil 228 to hold the switch 208 closed whichmaintains power at the steam valve solenoid 190.

Referring now to the switch 202 of the foot pedal 180, upon depressionof the foot pedal, the hot common contact 238 closes against normallyopen contact 240 and thereby completes through rectifier 242 anenergizing direct current charge to a delay control for air discharge.This control includes a loop having coil 244 which controls normallyopen switch 246, a condenser 248 and resistor 249. The switch 246 thusis closed by the energized coil 244 and is maintained closed by thedischarging condenser 248 upon the foot pedal being released and switch202 shifting to the position shown. Again the time of discharge isshort, viz a couple of seconds, during which the switch 246 ismaintained closed by the condenser 248. The release of the foot pedal180 and the return of the switch 202 to its shown position brings hotcommon contact 238 against normally closed contact 252 and transmitspower through line 254, the now closed switch 246 to juncture 255, andacross the normally closed contacts 250 and 259 of the manual-automaticair selector switch 188 to energize the blower motor 186. After thecondenser 248 discharges, the switch 246 opens to break the circuit andto terminate the operation of the blower.

This control thereby provides for initial simultaneous discharge ofsteam and air into the bag. The blower operation is limited only to theapproximate two second duration of discharge of the delay controlcondenser 248 that maintains switch 246 closed while the steamdischarges the typical -20 second duration as set on steam timer 182.After the steaming time lapses and timer motor 218 shifts contact 220against contact 222, the blower once again is operated as is its timermotor 264, and steam delay condenser 229 simultaneously maintains thesteam discharge. The blower operates after the steam dischargeterminates and until the lapsed air timer motor 264 drives the contact213 off grounded contact 214. This breaks the holding circuit throughswitch 200 and coil 212 to open switch 215 and stop the cycle.

It has been found adequate to have the controlled discharged time ofeach condenser 229 and 248 approximately two seconds, thereby givingsimultaneous discharges of steam and air for approximately two secondsat the beginning and at the end of the steam cycle. By including avariable resistor (not shown) in series with the condenser in each delaycontrol, the controlled discharge time of the condenser can be variedwithin limits for adjustable durations of concurrent steam and airdischarge. This overlap of the air and steam discharges improves theoperation of the unit by preventing steam migration through the blowerand also by driving the steam through the garment more completely.Switch 258 is provided in line 254, which, if opened, would eliminatethe air puff concurrently with the steam at the beginning of the steamcycle, but the remainder of the cycle would be the same.

An alternate embodiment of the collar clamp is disclosed in FIGS. 10 and11 which is particularly useful where independent release control isdesired for the collar clamp, but yet which can be releasedautomatically with the other clamps as previously indicated. In thisembodiment, the clamp 270 includes a rod 272 which is secured to andprojected forwardly of the front plate 24 of the frame 14. The rod hassecured thereto a piston 274 which is received within a cylinder of acylinder case 278, and which thereby defines an expansible chamber 280.A spring 282 confined between the piston and the rear wall of the casenormally tends to maintain the chamber at a minimum volume whichcorresponds to the position where the clamping face 284 on the case isspaced from the back-up plate 24. The rod 272 has a bore 286 which isconnected by flexible hose or the like 290 connected to a source of air,such as provided at the tap 98 of the front power cylinder 50. A firstport 292 connects the bore 286 with the chamber 280, and a second port294 connects the bore with the atmosphere as vented through opening 298in the rear wall of the case.

An independent plunger 300 having a sealing area 302 which cooperateswith the bore 286 is movable within the bore, and lever 304 pivoted onpin 306 to the rod has a cam surface 308 thereon which engages theplunger through ball 310 for actuation of the plunger 300. The plunger300 normally is maintained against the ball by the air pressure withinthe bore 286. The plunger 300 has a peripheral recess 312 of sufiicientbreadth to connect the ports 292 and 294 together (as shown) when theplunger is properly aligned within the bore. When this occurs, thechamber 280 is vented to permit the spring to bias the clamping caserelative to the rod to its inoperative position spaced from plate 24.Upon downward pivoting of the lever 304 from that shown, cam surface 308releases the plunger to permit the air pressure within the bore to shiftthe plunger axially until the sealed area. 302 passes the port 292 tocommunicate line pressure to the chamber 280. This shifts the caseaxially along the rod until the clamp face 284 bottoms against thegarment and the back-up plate 24 on the frame 14. To release the clampat the collar section, the lever is shifted upward to the position shownto move the plunger 300 within the bore until the cavity 312interconnects the ports 292 and 294 and vents the chamber 280.

It would be possible also to connect the source of air for the collarclamp cylinder 270 in a modified manner, namely connecting the hose 290to the top 166 of the front clamp power cylinder 50. This provides thatthe pressure in the cavity of the front power cylinder 50 iscommunicated to the bore 286, which under normal conditions will be linepressure. However, upon venting the front clamp power cylinder, thecavity 100 and thus the bore 286 will be vented automatically also. Atorsion spring 314 can be disposed between the lever and rod loaded toshift the lever to its clamp released position as shown, but of capacityto do this only when the plunger is not biased by air pressure againstthe cam face 308. Consequently, upon the bore being vented, both theplunger and the lever would automatically be shifted to the position asshown where the clamp is in its released or inoperative position.

The source of steam for the heat exchanger 20 and for discharge from thenozzle 22, and the source of air for operating the various powercylinders can be provided by conventional structure. For example, asteam inlet connection 320 can be provided to the unit and tubing 322connect this to the heat exchanger coil 20 and tubing 324 return thesteam to outlet connection 226. Moreover, a suitable connection such asT 328 can be provided from the inlet line 322 through solenoid valve fordischarge of steam from the nozzle. Water traps, filters and pressureregulators (not shown) can be upsteam of the steam inlet connection andof conventional design. The air source is conveyed through filter trap330, a pressure regulator 332, and line 334 to the inlet tap 98 on thefront clamp power cylinder 50.

What is claimed is:

1. A garment finisher, comprising the combination of a frame, a perviousbag disposed over the frame; means including a nozzle and a valve forcontrolled discharge of steam in the bag; means including a blower forforcing air into and through the bag; a clamp mounted adjacent the frameadapted to be moved between an inoperative position spaced therefrom anda garment holding position thereagainst; and means including a source offluid pressure and a power cylinder connected to the clamp, and valvemeans responsive to the clamp being manually moved proximate but not tothe garment holding position to communicate the pressure source to thepower cylinder effective thereafter for urging the clamy to andmaintaining it at the garment holding position.

2. A garment finisher according to claim 1, further comprising controlmeans including first circuit means for opening the valve to providesteam discharge, second circuit means effective upon the deenergizationof the first circuit for operating the blower, and third circuit meansoperable independently of the second circuit means but responsivesimultaneously therewith for sustaining steam discharge a short durationconcurrently with the operation of the blower.

3. A garment finisher according to claim 2, further comprising a fourthcircuit means operable independently of the first circuit means butresponsive simultaneously therewith to operate the blower only a shortduration concurrently with the steam discharge.

4. A garment finisher according to claim 1, further comprising means tovent the power cylinder operable to release the clamp to its inoperativeposition.

'5. A garment finisher according to claim 3, wherein the third circuitor the fourth circuit includes condenser that discharges to determinethe overlap of the steam and air discharges.

6. A garment finisher, comprising the combination of a frame, a perviousbag disposed over the frame; means including a nozzle and a valve forcontrolled discharge of steam in the bag; means including a blower forforcing air into and through the bag; and control means including firstcircuit means for opening the valve to provide steam discharge, secondcircuit means effective upon the deenergization of the first circuitmeans for operating the blower, third circuit means operableindependently of the second circuit means but responsive simultaneouslytherewith and supplemental to the first circuit means for sustainingsteam discharge a short duration concurrently with the operation of theblower, and fourth circuit means operable independently of the firstcircuit means but responsive simultaneously therewith and supplementalto second circuit means to operate the blower a short durationconcurrently with the steam discharge at the initial phase thereof.

7. A garment finisher according to claim 6 further including a relay anda condenser in each of the third and fourth circuits, and whereindischarge of the condenser operates to hold the relay for the durationof concurrent steam and air discharge.

8. A garment finisher according to claim 6, wherein a first timerautomatically shifts switch means to energize the second circuit meansat the conclusion of a given set duration, and wherein the third circuitmeans responds automatically upon the switch means being shifted.

'9. A garment finisher according to claim 8, wherein a second timer isinitially operated upon the second circuit means being energized, andwherein the second timer shifts switch means to deenergize the secondcircuit at the conclusion of a given set duration.

10. A garment finisher, comprising a frame having a vertical member andhorizontally disposed shoulder elements upon which a garment can bedressed and an outlet disposed generally below the shoulder elements, agenerally impervious sleeve having its lower end attached to the outletand having its upper end extending inside and overlapping with a lowerportion of the garment and being expandable at the area of overlapagainst the lower portion of the garment, means to support the upper endof the sleeve inside the garment, spaced faces disposed adjacent theoverlap of the sleeve and garment and outwardly of the garment to beengaged by the garment and to restrain the expansion thereof, at leastsome of said spaced faces being formed on one arm structure, said onearm structure being movable to an operative position closely adjacentthe sleeve and restrained against the frame to trap the garmenttherebetween and maintained there during the finishing cycle and alsobeing movable to an inoperative position more remote from the sleeve andmaintained there for increasing clearance and the ease of dressing andremoving the garment relative to the frame, power cylinder meansconnected between the one arm structure and the frame, valve meansoperated responsive to the relative position of the one arm structurefor automatically connecting a pressure source with the power cylindermeans when the one arm structure is moved proximate but not to itsoperative position restrained by the frame operable thereafter tomaintain the one arm structure in its said operative position, frictionmeans on the faces suitable to minimize slippage of the garment relativethereto, the upper end of the sleeve being open to the inside of thegarment, means for discharging steam under pressure to within the sleeveand means for discharging heated air under pressure from the outlet towithin the sleeve, whereby pressure within the sleeve balloons theoverlap area thereof against the garment in a substantial snug airretaining manner and holds the garment against the spaced faces.

11. A garment finisher according to claim 10, wherein another armstructure has thereon some other of said spaced faces, wherein the otherarm structure can be moved to its operative position adjacent but spacedfrom the frame and maintained there during the finshing cycle and can bemoved to its inoperative position spaced further from the frame forincreasing the ease of dressing and removing the garment relative to theframe.

12. A garment finisher according to claim 11, wherein other powercylinder means are connected between the other arm structure and theframe, and wherein means connect the one arm structure power cylindermeans to the other arm structure power cylinder means to shift the otherarm structure to its operative position automatically upon the one armstructure being positioned and maintained in its operative position.

13. A garment finisher, comprising the combination of a form; a bagdisposed over the form and having a lower impervious sleeve and an openupper portion, and the garment being dressed over the form and havingits lower portion and the upper end of the sleeve overlap one another;means for controlled discharge of steam to within the :bag; means forforcing heated air to within the bag; a front clamp mounted adjacent thefront of the form adapted to be moved between a garment release positionspaced from the form and a garment holding position confined against theform over the overlap area of the sleeve, said front clamp including anarm circumferentially extended relative to the overlap area of thesleeve and presenting friction faces spaced from the form but lined upwith and engageable with the overlap area; means for maintaining thefront clamp in the garment holding position; a rear element adjacent therear of the form and having an arm circumferentially extended relativeto the overlap area of the sleeve and presenting friction faces spacedfrom the form but lined up with and engageable with the overlap area,and the overlap area of the sleeve being generally larger than thecorresponding overlying areas of the garment sufiicient thereby toballoon outwardly in an air retaining manner against the garment uponair and/ or steam being discharged to within the bag and operative alsothereby to hold the garment against said friction faces.

14. .A garment finisher according to claim 13, wherein the totalcircumferential length of the front clamp arm and the rear element armfriction faces is but a small percent of the total circumferentiallength of the overlap area of the sleeve.

15. In a garment finisher, the combination comprising a formcorresponding generally to a human torso, and upon which the garment isto be dressed; a first clamp having horizontally spaced faces adapted inthe operative position of the first clamp to straddle and hold thecollar or lapel areas of the garment against the underlying form andbeing movable to an inoperative position spaced from the garment; asecond clamp pivoted at its lower end about a generally horizontal pivotaxis and supporting a resilient face at its upper end adjacent the frontelement, and the second clamp being pivoted to an inoperative positionwhere the resilient face is spaced from the garment and an operativeposition where the resilient face straddles and holds the lower areas ofbutton flaps on the garment against the form; and means including firstand second power cylinders operable, respectively, to hold the first andsecond clamps in the respective operative position.

16. A garment finisher combination according to claim 15, wherein avalve between each power cylinder and a source of pressure responds tothe position of the respective face to communicate pressure to therespective power cylinder when said face is almost at but slightlyspaced from its operative position, so that the respective powercylinder thereafter creates a large force biasing the face against theframe.

17. A garment finisher combination according to claim 16, wherein meansare provided to vent the second power cylinder, and wherein meansconnects the second power cylinder to the first power cylinder operableto release the first and second faces substantially simultaneously.

18. A garment finisher combination according to claim 17, wherein athird clamp is provided at the rear of the form, and wherein said thirdclamp presents faces that remain at all times spaced from the form butwithin close enough proximity to be engaged by the garment.

19. A garment finisher combination according to claim 18, wherein thethird clamp is movable in its inoperative position to an even moreremote location spaced from 12 the form, and wherein a third powercylinder for the third clamp is connected to the second power cylinderto be vented substantially simultaneously therewith.

20. A garment finisher according to claim 13, further comprising controlmeans including first circuit means for providing steam discharge,second circuit means effective upon the deenergization of the firstcircuit for providing air discharge, and third circuit means operableindependently of the second circuit means but responsive simultaneouslytherewith for sustaining steam discharge a short duration concurrentlywith the air discharge.

21. A garment finisher according to claim 20, further comprising afourth circuit means operable supplemental to the first circuit meansand responsive simultaneously therewith to provide discharge air only ashort duration concurrently with the initial steam discharge.

22. A garment finisher according to claim 21, wherein the third andfourth circuits each includes a condenser that discharges on acontrolled basis to determine the overlap of concurrent steam and airdischarges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,658,649 11/1953 Rosenthal223-73 3,333,747 8/1967 Glover 223- 3,385,485 5/1968 Aloi 223703,428,228 2/1969 Frauendorf 22370 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,142,830 1/1963Germany.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl.X.R. 223-52.1

